Morgan nods, and I shudder. I really am not the camping type.
"It's gonna rain," Lexi says, and shows me the weather forecast on her iPhone app. "You think they'll let us go back to the dorms?"
"Probably not," I reply. "Did you all bring rain coats?"
They nod, even Jenna.
"Captain Mathis made us," Lexi says.
Damn Marine. I know it's not Captain Mathis' fault that it's supposed to rain, but I don't mind blaming him for it, especially knowing I probably should've listened to him.
The skies are overcast but I don't smell rain yet, and I pray not to see any until we get back in tomorrow evening.
As usual, my luck doesn't hold long. We make it through the obstacle course, a quick lunch and then begin a hike to the private campground where we'll be spending the night.
It starts raining an hour before we get there. Not a drizzle - a downpour. I think I'm the only one without a raincoat or poncho. At least the kids and Petr are okay, even if my mood is tanking fast. Quickly soaked and cold, I keep one eye on the kids and another on the muddy trail beneath me. Captain Mathis was right about socks, too, and I'm almost glad I listened. My feet are soaked by the end of our march.
As the last team to go through the course, we're also the team that spent the most time in the rain.
I'm not sure what to expect when we get to the campground, but it's not a damn tent city. There's one that's acting as a cafeteria and a second one for the kids then four smaller ones, one on each side, that I assume are for the counselors. The bathrooms are modern, at least.
Twisting my hair into a bun, I see the youngest boy, Rory, as he slides in the mud and lands on his face in a puddle. His pack and sleeping bag go sailing and land in a puddle. I'm the last in the caravan, so I stop to help him.
"Gotcha," I say with a quick smile. My hands are almost numb from cold, and I haul him up.
Only to feel my feet slip in the mud.
We both crash down again. Wetness soaks through one side of me, and I resist the urge to curse in front of him.
Rory is giggling. Unconcerned with the mud, he pushes himself up to his knees and grins at me.
"You're enjoying this." I can't help but smile at the look on his face.
He nods. "Do you think they have cocoa?" he asks.